Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
West Orange County Water Board (WOCWB) Annual Operational Budget for FY 2025/26.
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publichearing
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From: Jake Ngo, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Veronica Johnson, Management Analyst
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Approve the West Orange County Water Board’s FY 2025/26 budget shared between Westminster, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and Garden Grove, and approve Westminster’s contribution of $300,685.
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BACKGROUND
The West Orange County Water Board (WOCWB) consists of members representing the cities of Westminster, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, and Seal Beach. The main function of the Board is to maintain and manage, by the City of Huntington Beach’s water staff, the lines and valves for two of our three Metropolitan Water District (MWD) connections. One of those connections is located near Bolsa/Newland and is referred to as OC-9. The other connection is located near Westminster/Willow and is referred to as OC-35. The third MWD connection for Westminster is located near Katella and Dale, referred to as OC-53, and is managed and maintained by the Westminster Water Division.
Staff have reviewed and agrees with WOCWB’s proposed 2025/26 budget in the amount of $1,683,800. Westminster’s contribution to the operating portion of the budget will be $300,685, representing 25.4% of the total Operating Budget for FY 2025/26. This covers all anticipated maintenance activities for the two mentioned pipelines, and does not include any payment toward the, already completed, OC-35 Relocation Project Loan. The City of Westminster has already paid its entire share of such a loan.
The proposed budget also includes Westminster’s annual share of the Cathodic Protection Program. The conditions of the OC-9 pipeline, and the OC-35 pipeline are nearing the end of their life span. In 2020, the WOCWB approved the Cathodic Protection Program, which uses an electrical charge to prevent corrosion of the metal in the aging water lines and thus extending their lifespans. The anticipated $8 million cost is to be collected from the cities over an eight-year period. This being the sixth of the eight years.
Due to increasing costs and new findings resulting from the maintenance of the water lines, staff may return to the Mayor and City Council for an amendment to the WOCWB budget for the increase in the cathodic protection program, which is unknown at this time.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $300,685 are budgeted in Account Number 55502-552101, Fund 602 (Utility Administration).
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The next steps are to approve the West Orange County Water Board’s FY 2025/26 budget and Westminster’s contribution of $300,685.
ATTACHMENTS
1. West Orange County Water Board Proposed FY 2025/26
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
Christian Bettenhausen, City Attorney
Christine Cordon, City Manager